Transversely rigid, longitudinally flexible, internal sole element for footwear



Feb. 8, 1949. su 2,461,355

TRANSVERSELY RIGID, LONGITUDINALLY FLEXIBLE, v INTERNAL SOLE ELEMENT FOR FOOTWEAR Filed May 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J J K 2 K a w z i 1 Q 1 Ma .1 w w .N

PQLF

Feb. 8, 1949.

TRANSVERSELY RIGID, LONGITUDINALLY FLEXIBLE,

Filed May 27, 1946 G; SUPPLE 2,461,355

INTERNAL SOLE ELEMENT FOR FOOTWEAR I IIIIIIIIII'IIIIE! 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M67850? rf w/v5 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 TRANSVERSELY' RIGID, LONGITUDINALLY FLEXIBLE, INTERNAL SOLEELEMENT FOR FOOT WEAR.

Gilbert. Supple, Waban, Mass.

Application May 27, 1946; ScriaI NOr 6'72,346-' 3 Claims.

. This invention pertains to footwear andmo-re particularly to. a noveiinner sole element for use:in.fcotwear and designedto provide a transversely rigid, but longitudinally flexible, footsupporting surface; v

In my Patent No. 2,331,937, datedAugust l i, l9 i5,-.I..h'ave described aztransversely rigid; longitudinally flexible sole. element comprising one or more-plies oiwood and a marginal attachingstrip ofrflexihlematerial such as leather. In the patented construction the. sole element with its attaching strip is shownas; terminating substantially at the heel breast line, andth'e: shoe. chosen for specific illustration in: said patent is a Goodyear welt ShOBIWhSIBllI the sole element constitutes'theoutersole:

Such a. sole element, transversely rigid. but longitudinally flexible, modified for particularv uses, is desirable'asan inner 'memberof the shoe bottom structure in association with a conventionai outer'sole of leather, rubber or the like and 1 operative to: provide afoot-supporting surface having'. a. degree of" transverse rigidity; not

inherent in the material of": conventional outer v Such an inner member may, for. example;

soles. constitute the. insole in shoesof' some types, especially in athletic: shoes; for example,- golf". andv bowling shoes, wherein longitudinal flexibility coupled with adequate;- footsupport: are highly desirable:

AH; obj ect of" the present invention. is to provide a novel shoe construction where-in such; a sole element constitutes the inner sole. A further object is to provide: an inner sole having the characteristics of the sole element above referred to but which is of" full length, that is to' say, it extendsirom heel to toe tip'oi the shoe, thus making it available=for use in shoes of certain speciahtypes; A further object is to provide an insole wherein the forepartor forepartandsliank portions; are: of the transversely rigid: construction: of: the: aforesaidipatent; while: the": remainder ofzth'e rinsoleis of conventional character, for/em ample of. leather or: fabric; A: further." object is to? provide. a. transversely rigid. longitudinally flexible: inner: sole having an attaching: element extending: all of: the; way: around it; including its toe and heel portions. Other: and "further: objects and advantages" of: the invention: will be pointed out in thefollowing more detailed descriptioniand' by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 11 is: a side: elevation ofv an athletic shoe embodying the present inventiom.

Fig. 2 is a top; view of the inner: sole used in line-E-E-or to larger scale than .1, and

illustrating. the construction of -a shoe. of the sewed Littleway type embodying an insole of. the. kind shown in Fig, 4;

Fig. 6 is a-vieiv' similartoFig. 5 butshowing the present-invention-embodied in a shoe. of: Good?! year welt type, the inner sole being of the specific. construction shoWn in'Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is arfragmentarytransverse section showin the insole of the-present invention embodied in a shoecitthe-Littleway type; the inner sole bee,

ing of. the specific form shown; in Fig; 3;

Fig. c-is-a-fragmentary transverse section show- 7 ins, the improvediinner. sole of thepresent inven: tion. embodied ina shoeroi Goodyear. Little-way type; the innersol-e beingofthe specific construction': hownin Fig. 3;. and a Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse -section-show' ing .the-improvedinnersole of the present invene tion embodied. in one type of stitch-downzshoe; the

innersole being ofthe kind shown inrFig; 4;

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l designatesda-shoe, for example aigolf or bowling shoe,- comprising the. upper 2, the outersole-fl;thevheel 5, and a welt strip-6. Thisshoe also hasan'irmer sole.s illustrated in l fig. 2. This inner sale may be of the: general construction of the sole element illustrated inmy aioresaidpatent'. For example; as. shown; in Fig. 3, it may; comprise; a lOllgltlldie sally. extending, series ofparallel transversely: extend and transversely rigid ribslZ; each rib. consisting .ofsuperposed splints or slats-T and respectively; oi'woo'dxor material havingrequiv alent. characteristics. This inner.- sole; aszillus tratedi for example; in: Fig. 3-, also comprises; a

- flexible, thinzconnecting element. I a, .for instance textile material, sheeted: syntheticv resin; vulicanizedruhber'or'the-likawhich extendsthrough out the? area of; the: inner sole; and. which is in terposed between the 111 1 61." and lower.- slats 1 and titatediin. Fig. 4; theriinner solemay comprise a:

single thin piece of wood, with the grain extending transversely of the inner sole and having transversely extending rooves or incisions H, which define the transversely extending ribs l2. The incisions or grooves ll do not extend all of the way through the thickness of the sheet of wood, thus leaving thin hinge areas 13 permitting the ribs l2 to flex relatively to each other, thus providing a sole which is transversely rigid but very flexible longitudinally.

Whether the arangement of Fig. 3 or Fig.4, or other equivalent be employed, the ends of the several ribs are provided with slots or grooves [4 (Fig. 5) which receive a portion of a flexible attaching strip 16. This portion of the attaching strip 46 which is disposed in the slots in the ribs, may be an integral tongue, as shown in Fig. 5, or if the ribs be constructed as shown in Fig. 3, for example, this portion may consist of the margin of the flexible uniting ply. This attaching strip, whether of one or more plies, is of some flexible but strong material, for instance leather which is readily penetrable by an awl, sewing needle, staple, tack or other usual instrumentality employed in the union of shoe parts, and as illustrated in Fig. 2 it extends all of the way around the inner sole. The part or its equivalent fits snugly in the grooves [4 in the ends of the several ribs and is firmly and permanently secured to the ribs by adhesive or the like. The strip it thus unites the several ribs which form the inner sole, although permittin the ribs to flex freely relatively to each other longitudinally of the sole. It is within the scope of the invention to connect the slats or ribs solely by means of the attaching strip l6. 7

This longitudinally flexible transversely rigid inner sole with its penetrable attaching strip [6 extending all of the way around it, forms a very desirable inner sole for shoes of certain types, for instance the modified sewed Littleway shoe of Fig. 5. As illustrated in this view, a welt strip 6 is first secured to the marginal portion of the upper 2, by means of the sewed seam I8 or by means or staples or other fastener elements, if preferred. This welt strip 8 is of such width that its outer edge l9 registers with the outer edge of the outer sole 4. The inner sole 3, in accordance with the present invention, is assembled with the upper on a last. and the margin I! of the upper is lasted-in against the under face of the attaching strip iii of the inner sole, and with the inner marginal portion M of the welt strip 5 underlying this marginal portion. I"! of the upper. These parts I! and M may be united by adhesive, if desired, as well as by the seam IS, the marginal portion H of the upper being united to the attaching strip 16 of the insole by adhesive or by staples during the lasting operation. The space defined by the inner edges of the upper margin I1 and the welt M is filled with a suitable filling material shown at 20, and the outer sole 4 is secured in place, for example by means of adhesive. The last is removed from the upper and the parts l6, H, M and 4 are now united by the Littleway sewing stitches shown at 2|. The seam constituted by the stitches 2| extends all of the way around the shoe, including the toe and heel portions. After the outer sole has thus been sewed in place, the heel 5 may be attached and a; slipsole 22 inserted, if desired, and adhesively secured in place to form a smooth surface on which the foot of the wearer may rest. It is not necessary to employ this slip sole 22 although it provides a better finish when used. If desired,

the welt strip 6 may constitute the outer marginal portion of a complete middle sole member.

In Fig. 6, the inner sole above described is shown as employed in the construction of a Goodyear welt shoe. In this instance the attaching strip of the inner sole, designated I6, is furnished at its under side with parts H which collectively form a sewing rib such as is customarily provided at the under side of a Goodyear welt inner sole. These elements l1 may be integral with the body portion of the strip [6, for example,

they may be skived up from the under side of the latter. On the other hand, these members H may be separate from the body portion W of the attaching strip, and suitably secured to the latter, following practices which are customary in the making of Goodyear welt inner soles. Having prepared the inner sole with its attaching strip Id and its sewing rib H the inner sole is assembled with the upper 2 on a last, and the lower edge of the upper and the inner edge of a Goodyear welt 6 are secured to the sewing rib I? by the inseam stitches 23, or if preferred, by staples or other fasteners. The space defined by the sewing rib H is then filled with suitable filler material 20. The inseam is trimmed in customary fashion, and the outer sole 3 applied and secured, if desired, by adhesive to the shoe bottom structure. The outer margin of the outer sole 3 is sewed to the'welt 6 by the stitches 24, which as here illustrated are concealed at the shoe bottom by the channel flap 25.

For certain types of Goodyear shoe, for instance those employed for sport use, it may be desirable to have the attaching strip "5 extend all of the way around the inner sole, as above described, and to extend the Goodyear welt 6* all of the way around the shoe rather than to have it terminate at the heel breast line, as is more often the practice.

In Fig. '7 the shoe upper is shown at 35, the insole (similar to the insole shown in Fig. 3) is indicated at 36, and the outer sole at 31, the upper, insole and outer sole being united by sewin stitches 38.

In Fig. 8 the shoe upper is shown at 39, the insole (similar to that shown in Fig. 3) is shown at 40, the mid-sole at 4|, and the outer sole at 42. The upper, insole and middle sole are united by the sewing stitches 43. The mid-sole extends outwardly beyond the upper to provide a welt to which the outer sole is attached by the sewing stitches 44.

In Fig. 9 the upper is shown at 45, the insole at 46, and the outer sole at 41. In this instance the insole is generally like that shown in Fig. 5, but the upper surface 48 of the attaching strip (comprising the parts 49 and 5B) is substantially below the plane of the upper surfaces of the wooden ribs 5! thus providing an inset vertical marginal face or shoulder 52 defined by the ends of the wooden ribs, and a substantially horizontal face defined by the upper surface 48 of the attaching strip. The upper lies against the vertical face 52 and then turns outwardly so'that its margin 53 contacts the surface 58; Sewing stitches 54 unite the attaching strip and upper, these sewing stitches extending through the upper at the apex of the angle formed respectively by those portions of the upper which engage the surface 52 and the surface 48, these stitches being formed in the operation of thread-lasting. By reason of the shoulder at the margin of the insole these stitches draw the upper very snugly down against the upper surface of the attaching strip.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have been illustrated by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of all modifications and equivalents which fall within the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A full length insole for use in footwear, said insole comprising a series of transversely rigid ribs and a marginal attaching strip of flexible material, said attaching strip comprising a portion which fits into and is secured in grooves in the ends of the several ribs, the attaching strip thereby connecting the ribs and extending uninterruptedly all of the way around the insole, including its heel and toe ends.

2. An insole for use in footwear, said insole comprising aseries of transversely rigid ribs and a marginal attaching strip, said attachin strip comprising a part which fits into and is secured in grooves in the ends of the several ribs, the attaching strip thereby connecting the ribs, the attaching strip having a rib of needle-penetrable material projecting from its under surface for the reception of fastener elements for uniting the marginal portion of a shoe upper to said strip.

3. An insole for use in footwear, said insole comprising a series of transversely rigid ribs and means flexibly uniting them and a flexible marginal attachin strip of needle-penetrable material comprising a part which fits into and is secured in grooves in the ends of the several ribs, the attaching strip having a sewing rib projecting from its under surface for the reception of fastener elements for uniting the margin of a shoe upper and Goodyear welt to said strip.

4. A full length insole for use in footwear, said insole comprising a series of transversely rigid ribs and a marginal attaching strip of flexible material, said attaching strip connecting the ribs, the

attaching strip extending uninterruptedly all of the way around the insole, including its heel and toe ends, and comprising a needle-penetrable sewing rib designed to receive the inseam stitches in the manufacture of a Goodyear welt type shoe.

5. An insole for use in footwear, said insole comprising a series of transversely rigid ribs and a marginal attaching strip of flexible material, said attaching strip connecting the ribs, the upper surface of the exposed portion of the attaching strip being substantially flush with the upper surfaces of the ribs, and a needle-penetrable sewing rib projecting from the lower side of the attaching strip, said rib being integral with the body portion of the strip.

6. An insole for use in footwear, said insole being longitudinally flexible and comprising a series of parallel, transversely rigid ribs and a flexible attaching strip having its inner marginal portion permanently united to the ends of the several ribs, the attaching strip extending all of the way around the insole including its heel and toe ends.

'7. A longitudinally flexible inner sole element comprising a series of parallel, transversely rigid ribs and a flexible attaching strip, said attaching strip having an integral tongue which fits into slots in the ends of the several ribs and which is permanently united to the ribs, the lower surface of the attaching strip being substantially flat and flush with the lower surfaces of the series of ribs.

8. A transversely rigid, longitudinally flexible, internal'sole element designed to constitute one of the constituent layers of a shoe bottom structure and to be interposed between a conventional outer sole and a foot-contacting sole member, said sole element having an edge contour generally similar to that of the forepart portion, at least.

of the outersole with which it is to be associated and comprising superposed plies, and means permanently uniting said plies, one of said plies being of tough, strong material which is flexible both longitudinally and transversely of the sole element and another of said plies being flexible longitudinally but substantially rigid transversely of the sole element, said latter ply comprising a series of longitudinally spaced, parallel, transversely extending slats, each slat being of wood or a material having similar stiffness and rigidity.

GILBERT SUPPLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,061,911 Leindorf Nov.24, 1936 2,377,635 La Chapelle June 5, 1945 2,412,385 Beckwith et al Dec. 10, 1946 

